FIRE ALARMS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4302, 11 March 1901, Page 7

FIRE ALARMS

THE NEW MUNICIPAL SYSTEM. AN UP-TO-DATE METHOD. .SIGNALS OPERATIVE FROM TODAY. The new Fire. Brigade Station in Jerwjis quay L to bo officially opened in about a, month’s time. Meanwhile, Cantain .Hugo is gotliug everything into spick and span order, so that, when completed, the new station will bo equal, if not superior, to anything of the kind iu Australasia. The electric fire-alarm boxes wiil-*;omc ’ i.- to operation from one o’clock to-day, and we have been invited to request . citizens to make themselves acquainted uiih the position of the box which is | closest to their places of residence or ( business. I 'The method of sounding the alarm is to break the glass of the signal box and press the button, contained therein. If this operation takes place at a short distance from the lire the alarmist is expected to stand by the box until the brigade arrives, and give it express directions as to where Hie, lire is taking place. The wait will not be a long one in any case, because Captain Hugo guarantees* that his, beautifully trained and conditioned horses will land the brigade at Hie furthest signal box from the station. (for instance, Hay street, Oriental Bay), within four" minutes of the alarm of* fire iieing sounded. Of course, people will not'be expected to break the glass in the signal boxes if they perceive a,fire in the distance, be. cause the effect would be to bring tho brigade to their,'vicinity instead of to Hie spot where the outbreak bad taken place. The best method of communicating with the , brigade in case of fires scon at a distance is by mean;; of the ncarest telephone. The system of recording an alarm box signal is simple, though the machinery through which it is done is complexity itself. Directly the glass is smashed, and the button is pressed, Hie number of the box from wddeb the alarm emanates is recorded on a dial at the lire station. The same electrical signal which effects that object rings an alarm pong in tiic engine house; a service of alarm bells in every room at the station , where firemen sleep are stirred into violent motion; the current runs down the rods, with the result that tlje stable and station doors are thrown open; and the same influence is brought to bear on a clock at the station, wdiich stops it:; ticking precisely at the moment an alarm is sounded. The ifian in charge at tlit; station switches on the lights in the various compartments the- moment _ the boll is rung, and the horses are, trained to trot out of their stalls and stand at (,bo poles of tbs engines, so that the harness may bo thrown upon them, and their traces coupled to the engines. There is nothing more' stirring than the sight of a, smartly-equipped brigade turning out in answer to a. sudden alarm. There are thirty-ono alarm points throughout the ’city, located as follows :

Choral Hall, Basin' Reserve, Caledonian Hotel, Pirie street, City.,Hotel, Hawker street, Clyde quay. Hay street. Royal Oak, Voitch and Allan’s, Abel Smith street, Polhill Gully, Webb street, Arthur street, Tory -street, Taranaki street.

Martin’s Fountain, General Post Of lice, Kirkcalclio and Staius’s, Loan and Mercantile’s, Charlotte street, Museum, Aurora terrace, Mason’s steps. Bing, Harris and Co.’s, Chow’s lane, Duke of Edinburgh, Herbert street. St. Peter’s Church, - Wcolcombo street Boulcott street. ..